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AMHERST 



IN THB 



coujYTY of hil,l.sborough» 



tar 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 



FROM THE FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE FRESE^XT 
PERIOD, 



BY JOHN FARMER. 



AMHERST, 

IKiaXBD BX RICHARD BOTLSTOi'. 




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INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



THE preservation of historical facts is supposed to confer an obligation 
9n posterity. Though these facts may sometimes appear trivial when first 
brought to view, yetitis generally true, that they will acquire an importance 
proportionate to tlieir antiquity. Those which are exhibited in the following 
Plistorical Sketch may be less interesting to us, than to posterity, who will 
best know how to appreciate their value. 

It is gratifying to an inquisitive mind, and imparts profitable instruction, to 
review the conduct and examine the records of those who have passed before 
us on the theatre of action. It is a subject of delight torecalthe "days of 
other years ;" — the days when the goodly heritage we now enjoy began to 
emerge from an uncultivated slate — when the wilderness budded, and at a 
succeeding period, blossomed as the rose. It is obviously our duty to vener- 
ate the memory of those, to whom, under Providence, we are indebted for our 
civil and religious privileges, and cherish a remembrance for the principles 
which influenced their conduct. A few observations relating to the earliest 
European inhabitants of New-England may not be improper. Our fathers 
were a race of men peculiarly qualified to engage in settling a new country. 
They were men of courage, enterprize and perseverance. They were a re- 
ligious people. The cause of religious freedom had a principal agency in their 
removal from their native country. "They were," says Dr. C. Mather, "a 
chosen company of men, picked out of, perhaps, all the counties of England.'* 
It was the remark of a worthy magistrate of the colony of Massachusetts, 
that " God sifted a whole nation that he might send choice grain into this 
wilderness.'" 

The first planters of the most ancient towns in New-England, were princi- 
pally good substantial farmers or yeomen in England, or their immediate de- 
scendants. They were probably such as are described by Harrison, a writer 
of the sixteenth centurj, as follows. " This sort of people," says he, "hav« 
a certain pre-eminence, and more estimation than labourers and the common 
sort of artificers, and with grazing and frequenting of markets, and keep- 
ing of servants, do come to great wealth, insomuch that many of them are 
able, and do buy the lands of unthrifty gentlemen, and often send their sons 
to the schools, to the Universities, and to the Inns of court ; or otherwise 
leaving tliem sufficient lands, whereupon they may live without laboar, and 



1V» 

do make them hj those means to become gentlemen." It \» ccilain tliai 
saany of those who formed the first settlements were persons of consider- 
able estates. 

Our fathers, previous to their leaving England, lived in houses or cottages, 
" distributed into several rooms above and beneath, and were coated with 
•white lime or cement, and were roofed with reed.'* Others, of less substance, 
lived in cottages, consisting generally of two rooms on the ground floor, the 
outer for the servants,the inner for tlie master and his family, and these were 
thatched with straw. When they arrived in this country, and formed set- 
tlements in the wilderness, they built their first houses in a rude and inele* 
gant manner, of rough materials, and were seldom mors than one story high. 
And as they had been accustomed in their native country, to use thatch for 
a covering to the roofs of their houses, they used the same materials for sev- 
eral of the first years after their arrival here. The houses built in the coun^ 
try the first hundred years, and till past the middle of the last centurj^, gen- 
erally fronted towards the south, without any reference to the course or 
direction of the road. Hence we see at the present day some old 
houses facing the south, with the road running behind them ; others with the 
end towards the road ; and some with one of the corners. 

There was a difference between the circumstances of those who planted 
our earliest towns, and their posterity, who formed more modern settlements. 
The Fathers of New-England entered an unknown wilderness, were surround- 
ed with savage tribes, and exposed to their ferocity and the dangers and dis- 
tresses of famine and disease. They were three thousand miles from their 
native country, without neighbours, and unable to procure assistance in view 
of the most serious evils, and were assailed with disease and death. The 
settlers of plantations at a later period did not experience these evils to the. 
same extent, though their hardships and privations were very great. In case 
of assault from the Indians, they could seek shelter in the older settlements ; 
when famine approached them, they could receive supplies from their breth- 
ren. But still they were surrounded with difficulties, which to surmountj 
required great hardihood of body and intrepidity of mind. Let us then, 
ever remember our fathers witli veneration and respect. 
Amherst^ 24 ^pril, 1820. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



AMHERST, in the county of Hillsborough, is 
situated on both sides of Souhegan river, in latitude 42** 51' 
north. The principal part of territory lies on the northern 
side. It is nine miles in length from north to south ; the 
greatest breadth is four and a half miles ; its least breadth is 
rather more than two miles. It is bounded on the wpst by Mont 
Vernon, on the north by New-Boston, on the east by Bedford 
and IVIcrrimack, and on the south by Hollis and Milford. 
The distance of Amherst from Portsmouth is about 55 miles, 
from Boston, 48 miles ; and from Concord, the seatof gov- 
emmt-nt of the state, 30 miles. 

As this sketch will be confined to the history of the town, 
the writer will forego any farther geographical description. 
Amherst has its origin from a grant of the General Court of 
Massachusetts, to the posterity of those who served in the 
war with King Philif) in 1675. It appears from our histori- 
ans that this grant did not originate from the most dismterested 
motives.* It originated rather from motives of policy than 
from motives ot benevolence. 

From Governor Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts, it 
appears that the General Court of that province, in 1728, devi- 
ated from their ordinary prudence in the distribution of terri- 
tory, and, ''• on a sudden laid plans for grants of vast tracts of 
unimproved land." Under the old charter of the province, 
and the new, till this period, the government had granted 
lands for the purpose of having settlements formed. But at 
this time, the disposition of the Court was such, that pretences 

* About 20 years since, [i. e. 1748] and for some following years, the Gen- 
eral Afsembly of this Province [Massachusetts] were in the humour of divid- 
ing and appropriating most of the then reckoned Provincial or nnoccupied 
Lands : that in Case of future Claims by the crown, &c. by possession they 
might atleasl retain the Property. 

Our General Assembly at this time were in such a Hurry to appropriate the 
Tacant Lands, that several old Townsliips were encouraged to petition for 
an additional new Towusliip ; and when they were satiated, the Assembly in- 
troduced by way of Bounty to the Descendants of the Soldiers in the Indian 
War of King Philip, 1015, and of the Soldiers in Sir William Phipps'' Ex- 
pedition against Canada, 1690, grants toeach of fhs'je expeditions. l>avslai<-^' 
Summary, Vol, I, JVe/e io page 505. 



were encouraged and even souglit after to entitle persons to 
become grantees. The first, w^ho were selected, were the 
posterity of all the officers and soldiers' who served in the 
memorable expedition of 1675. Almost forty-eight years 
had elapsed since that event, and most of the officer'* and sol- 
diers engaged in it were dead. Of one hundred and twenty 
persons, to whom this town was assigned, only nineteen, who 
served in that war, were living in 1733. 

In June, 1728, the court g'aated two townships, each of the 
contents of six miles square, to the officers and soldiers, (or 
their lavirful representatives) belonging to the province of 
]\Iassachusefts, who were in the service of their country in the 
Narraganset v.'ar, as a reward for their pub'ick service and in 
full satisfaction of the grant formerly made them by the court. 
In June, 1732, in answer to several petitions, an additional 
grant of five more townships was m.de, and a committee of 
live persons* were appointed to survey and locate them in 
some of the unappropriated lands of the province. Each town- 
ship was to contain six miles square. The conditions of the 
grant of these seven townships w ere, that the grantees should 
assemble within two months and regulate each propriety, or 
township, which was to be held and enjoyed by one hundred 
and twenty grantees ; that they should settle sixty families at 
least in every township, and a learned orthodox minister, 
within seven years. The government, which was to be at the 
expense of locating the townships, reserved in each, one right 
for thr first settled muiister, one for the ministry, and one for 
the school. 

As might have been expected, considerable difficulty arose 
from the number of descendants, who presented their claims 
for the right of the same ancestor. In order to remedy this 
evil, the court ordered that where the person was deceased, 
who had been in the service, the grant should belong to his 
legal representative in the follov/ing manner. ' That the 
eldest male heir if such there n.ight be, otherwise the eldest 
female, if they pleased, should hold the land, by paying to the 
other descendants, or heirs, such proportionable parts of ten 
pounds, (which was judged to be the value of a right) as such 
descendants or heirs would be entitled to, provided that said 
land descended according to a law of the province for the set- 
tlement of intestate estates.' 

'i'he grant ol ilie additional five townships did not immedi'^ 
rjtely receive the approbation of the governour. 'J he act ; 
for granting diem passed the house, 30 June, 1732, and 

* John Chandler, Edward Shove, Thoma? TilcsloiiPj John ITobson an^ 
."*amuel Chundler. 



did not iTceive his signature till the twenty-sixth April., 
the year following. But the grantees were incessant in re- 
newing their application-j ; they even went so far as to ap- 
point a person* to use his interest with the governour to in- 
duce him " to sign the grant." Hovy far the influence of this 
person might have operated, it is not necessary to determine. 

After a great number of meetings and adjournments of the 
committee of the Narraganset grantees, the grantees them- 
selves assembled at Boston, on the common, and formed into 
seven distinct societies, each society consisting of one hun- 
dred and twenty persons, and entitled to one township. Three 
persons from each society were chosen a committee, who met 
at Luke Verdey's in Bosron, on the 17 October, 1733, and 
assigned the seven townships as follows. Narraganset No. I, 
situated " back of Saco and Scarborough," now called Buxton, 
was assigned to Philemon Dane and company ; No. II, at 
Wachuset, now called Westminster, to James Lowden ; No* 
III, at Souhegan-West, now Amherst, to Richard Mower ; 
No. IV, at Amuskeag, to Edward Shove ; No. V, at Souhe- 
gan-East, to Col. Thomas Tilestcn ; No. VI, in the county 
of Worcester, and now called Templeton, to Samuel Chandler ; 
and No. VII, in Maine, to Col. Shubael Gorham. 

This town which was called Narraganset No. Ill, was as- 
signed to 29 persons belonging to Salem, 7 to Marblehead, 
27 to Lynn, 5 to Gloucester, 9 to Andover, 14 to Topsfield, 
14 to Beverly, 4 to Wenham, 4 to Boxford, 1 to Scarborough, 
S to Reading, 1 to York, 2 to Falmouth, and 1 to Chatham. 
1714. ^ ^^^* meeting of the grantees of No. Ill, or 
Souhegan-West, as it was generally called, was holden 
at Salem Village, now Danvers, on the 17 July, this year, 
when a committeef was appointed to " take a particular view 
of the circumstances of the township," who were " to have 
power to employ a surveyor and such pilots as might be ne- 
cessary." A committee! was also appointed to subdivide the 
township. On the 2 September, the society met to receive 
the report of their committee, who, having been disappointed in 
the choice of a surveyor, made no report. They however de- 
clared verbally, " that they had been on the land and found it 
well timbered." The proprietors at this time voted that the 
township should be " subdivided as soon as may be" — that 
the committee appointed for that purpose should lay out to 
each proprietor for the first or home lot, sixty acres, and what 
was wanting in quality to be made up in quantity. 

* Mr. Samuel Welles. 

+ Capt. Beujamin Potter, Capt. Richard Mower, and Mr. Daniel Kennej. 
% The above gentlemen with Messrs. Cornelius TarbelJ, £b«nezer Ray 
mood, Jeremiah Gatchcl, Joha Bisbj aad Thoman T»rbos> 



About this time the first settlement was commenced by- 
Samuel Walton and Samtiel Lampson, who were the earliest 
inhabitants. They were from the county of Essex. Walton 
died in this town, hut none of his posterity remain here. 
Lampson removed to Billerica about five years after this town 
was inc«rporated, and died there.* His children remained in 
town, and his posterity still remain in Mont- Vernon. His 
son Jonathan Lampson died there in 1815, at the age of 90. 
Lampson and Walton first seated themselves about a mile 
from the present compact part of the town, on the Boston road, 
and here, it is said, was erected the first house in town. It 
was built of logs and stood where the tavern now stands. 
They afterwards took up other lots in different parts of the 
town, leaving their first habitations. Other setders from Mid- 
dlctonin Essex, and the adjacent towns, arrived within a few 
years, and commenced settlements in different parts of the 
town.f 

-y On the 8 January, the proprietors granted to Rich- 

ard Mower, liberty to draw lot No. 21, upon the 
conditions that he should, within eighteen months, build a 
convenient house of entertainment, fence in a pasture of six 
or eight acres, and provide a sufficient ferry boat to transport 
any of the proprietors over Souhegan river. On the first of 
May, a committee was appointed to take a view of the town- 
ship, and locate a spot for a meeting house, burial ground 
and training field. A tract of land containing thirteen acres 
and one hundred and forty rods v/as designated for these pur- 
poses. Measures were taken this year to build a bridge over 
Souhegan river. It was also voted that a convenient meet- 
ing house be built on that piece or plat of ground laid out for 
that purpose. 

In 1736, a person was appointed to wait on the selectmen 
of Dunstable, and request them to lay cut a highway from 
Nashua river to Souhegan bridge. 

^w^o Fourteenth February, the proprietors voted to 
build a meeting house, 45 feet long and 35 feet wide. 
It appears to have been raised 16 May, 1739, when Capt. 
Ebenezer Raymond was desired to make provision for the 
occasion. It stood upon an eminence about one fourth of a 
mile from the present meeting house, near the house formerly 

* In or(3er to ascertain the lime of Mr. Lampson's death, the ivriter ad- 
dressed a line to the Rev. Dr. Cumings, who says, he was admitted a mem- 
ber of the church in Billerica, on a letter of dismission and recommendation 
of the church in Amherst, May 30, 1765. The Doctor further adds, " I have 
a perfect recollection of him, but can give no account of his decease, whick 
must have been prior to July, 1784, when my private records of mortality 
eommeuced." MS. letltr of Rev. Dr. Cumings, 1819. 

+ For some notices of several of the early settlers, see Appendix No. I. 



9 

^dccupied by Major Turner Crooker. After the present house 
of worship was built, it was converted into a court house, and 
was finally burnt by an incendiary in 1790. 
^ y-Q A grant of sixty acies of land, adjoining the falls of 

Souhcgan river, was made to Solomon Wilkins up- 
on these conditions : — *•' That he should build a good grist- 
mill and keep it in repair, and at all times supply the inhabi- 
tants of Souhegan-West with meal when they should bring 
corn to be ground, for the customary and lawful toll." If any 
extraordinary casualty should happen, and he neplect to grind 
for the space of eight months, the privileges granted were to 
revert to the proprietors. These conditions do not appear to 
have been fulfilled by him, for a grant with similar conditions 
was made 30 April, 1741, to John Shepard, afterwards Colo- 
nel. Instead of sixty, there were granted to him one hundred 
and twenty acres, which extended down the river to the bottom 
of the falls. 
J y . This year the proprietors settled the Rev. Daniel 

Wilkins. The plantation at this time contained but 
fourteen fiimilies. It seems to have been a primary object in 
the grants of townships in New England, that the gospel 
ministry should be established. Indeed in the grant of some 
towns in the early settlement, this seems to have been the 
principal condition. In the grant of all the Narraganset town- 
ships, it was stipulated that the proprietors should settle a 
learned orthodox minister within the spate of seven years. 
The proprietors of this town at an early period of the settle- 
ment, manifested a disposition to have the inhabitants enjoy 
the ordinances of God. In December, 1738, they voted that 
the inhabitants should receive ;^.20 from the treasury, "toward 
their having the word of God preached among them for the 
enjuing six months." They afterwaids voted that the settlers 
should have fifty shillings for every Sabbath they should have 
preaching among them. 

As an inducement for persons to become inhabitants of this 
place, the proprietors voted that each settler should receive 
twenty pounds, provided he had complied with the conditions 
required by the grant of the general ,ourt. 

Sixty families were required to be settled here before the 
expiration of seven years, but it may be supposed that the time 
was extended to a longer period ; for in 1747, the proprietors 
chose a committee to adopt measures, which " should oblige 
sixty families (with those already settled here) to settle im- 
mediately, or procure some to settle here for them»" 
B 



10 

.^r-> •''^ hridge over Souhegan river near Milford mills 
' ^'^' was erected about this time. Several publick roads 
were laid out this year ; — one from Stdem-Canad:i,now Lynde- 
borough, to Milford bridge, and another from the bridge to 
the meeting-house. The road from I^ovejoy's bridge, frcim 
Small's and Sawyer's were laid out about the sftme time. 

Near this period, there were seven garrisoned houses, which 
afforded places of security to the inhabitants in times of alarm 
and danger. Besides these, there was, according to Douglass, 
a fort or block house which was maintained at the publick ex- 
pense. The Indians at this time, made fiequent irruptions 
on the frontiers, destroying the fruits of industry and capti- 
vating the settlers. Though Amherst was for some time one 
of the frontier tOAvns, and exposed to their incursions, yet it is 
not recollected that they ever committed much mischief in 
this place ; nor is there recorded any account of their killing 
any person w^ithin the precincts of the town. It is believed, 
there were few or no Indians in town at the arrival of the first 
settlers. There had been a considerable number, and some 
of their rvigwa7ns were then visible. They had dwelt prin- 
cipally upon the river ; and human bones, supposed to be those 
of Indians, have been washed from its banks within the recol- 
lection of the present inhabitants. The name of the river is 
derived from the Indians, and signifies, it has been said, 
crooked* Like many other Indian ;iames, it has changed its 
orthography, but retains the pronunciation familiar to our 
earliest inhabitants. Its most ancient name was Souhegenack, 
It was explored before the year 1683, and some grants of 
land, situated on its banks, were made by the government of 
Massachusetts prior to that time. At a subsequent period, 
the vicinity of this river was examined in search of metallick 
ores and minerals. Mr. Baden, an ingenious miner and as- 
sayer, was sent over to New-England by a company of gentle- 
man in England for this purpose. Lead ore was found near 
this river, and the Merrimack, " but not plenty, and so inter- 
mixed with rock and spar, as not worth working." 

^^,gQ This year, the town received a charter signed by 
Benning Wentworth, governour of the province, 
which is dated the eighteenth of January. It now exchanged 
the name of Souhegan-West for Amherst, which was given 
to it in honour of Jeffery, Lord Amherst, commander in chief 
of the British army at the conquest of Canada, in 1 760. This 
distinguished nobleman, who sustained many important offices 
in England, died at his seat in Kent, 3 August, 179r, 
aged 80. 



11 

The first meeting under the charter was holden on the 20th 
February. Colonel John Gofle, who was authorized to call 
the first meetingof the inhabitants, presided as moderator. Sol- 
omon Hutchinson* was chosen town clerk. VV^illiiun Brad- 
ford, Reuben Mussey, Joseph Gould, Thomas Clark, and the 
town clerk, were chosen the first selectmen. Soon after the 
town was chartered, the inhabitants at a publick meeting, chose 
Rev. Mr. Wilkins for their minister, and voted him an annual 
salary of forty-seven pounds, ten shillings, sterling money of 
Great-Britain, or an equivalent in the currencv of the pro- 
vince, upon the standard of Indian corn at two shilings per 
bushel, and pork two pence halfpenny per pound, sterling. 
A committee was chosen to present to Air. Wilkins the votes 
of the town on this occasian, to whom he made a written re- 
ply at the same meeting, containing his acceptance of their 
offer. 

The whole of Amherst at this time lay upon the northern 
side of Souhegan river. Its boundaries commenced at the 
river, *' thence running north one degree west, on the town- 
ships of Merrimack and Bedford, six miles ; thence running 
west on Bedford and a tract of land called New-Boston, six 
miles ; then south about five miles and an half to Souheg.ui 
aforesaid ; then by said river to the place where it began.f" 

The year 1761 was distinguished by a very severe drought, 
which operated severely on the frontier towns. The crops 
were cut short so as to render supplies from abroad absolute- 
ly necessary.:|; 

^ The last meeting of the proprietors on record was 

' holden 14 March, 1763. The proprietor's clerk, 

Major Joshua Hicks of Salem, had deceased, and the records 

* Mr. Hutchinson lived on the spot where the house of the lion. J. K. 
Smith stands. His dwelHug liouse was burnt in March, 1761. He removed 

from town in and afterwards went to the state of Maine, where he died 

a few years since, aged about 90 years. 

t A portion of the present territory of Amherst was comprehended in the 
deed, obtained 17 May, 1629, by Rev. John Wheelwright and others, from 
Passacouaway, Sagamore of Penacook, Runaawit of Pantuckt-t, Wahangno\r- 
awit of Swamscot and Rowls of Newichwannock. Thus, it seems, the right 
to a considerable part of the soil of this town was obtained from the original 
proprietors, which was " more valuable in a moral view, than the grants of 
any European prince could convey." Mason's grant from the Council of 
Plymouth included the whole of Wheelwright's purchase 

:j: The following instance of its effects is given on the authority of a gentle- 
man of respectability resident in town. 

A man belonging'to this town of the name of Ckrfc, having a family de- 
pendant on him for subsistence, went on foot to Charlestown Ferry, and 
procured from a vessel a bushel of Corn, wliich he brought on his back to 
LovewelPs mills in Dunstable, where he had it ground into meal, and from 
■hence in the same manner brought it home. 



12 

and papers of the propriety were in possession of his exe- 
cutors^. It appears that they could not be obtained without 
commencing a suit against them. A committee was accord- 
ingly chosen to commence an action against his executors for 
the recover)'^ of the records, plans, &c. The favourable ter- 
mination of this suit, placed in the hands of the committee the 
reco! ds and a few of the plans, but a number of valuable papers 
wei-e 'lever obtiiined. The propriety was not dissolved till 
about the year 1771, when the founh division of lots was laid 
out by a committee appointed by the proprietors. 

1770 i^h<^ chatter, annexing a part of Monson to Am- 

ber; t, was read and published at a publick town-meet- 
ing, 13 September, 1770. Monson AV^as a small town granted 
by Massachu'^etts prior to 1748, situated between HoUis and 
Amherst. The inhabitants made application to be annexed 
to Amherst, a feAV years after the latter was incorporated. At 
first the inhabitants of Amherst were averse to the annexation, 
but at a meeting, 10 April, 1766, they voted that a part with- 
in certain described limits might be annexed, provided Mon- 
son would be at the expense. Accordingly this year, a charter 
was granted to annex to Amherst that part of Monson includ- 
ed in these limits : " From Souhegan river, southerly by the 
town of Merrimack, two miles ; from thence west to the west 
line of Monson, from thence northerly to the river, and from 
this point down the river to the first place mentioned." 
^y_^ In 1771, the province of New-Hampshire was di- 

vided into counties. This event more than i.ny other 
that preceded it, contributed to the poptiiarity of this lov/n. 
Being selected as the shire town, having the principal offices 
of the county kept here,* and six courts during the year, it 
acquired a degree of importance which it had before unknowne 
Here Was the first publick administration of justice in the 
county. Before this time every cause, even from the remotest 
pan of the province, was carried to Poiismouth, where the 
publick offices were filled principally by the friends of the gov- 
ernour. ''Frequent coirplainis Avere made of partiality, and 
the practice of watering'- the jury was familiarly known to 
those persons who had much business in the law." The first 
courts were holden at the dwelling house oi Mr. Jonathan 
Smith. But in December, the in!i;ibitants voted to give the 
Justices of the couit-. of ge.neral sessions of the peace for the 
county, the old meeting house, on the condition that the said 
Justices should cause a new county gaol to be erected, within 
160 rods of the house as it then stood. 

* Tlie oHice of Register of Deeds was kept a few j'ears at HoIIis, but upon 
the resignation of Major Jlobart, it was removed to this town. Moses Nioiiois 
succeeded Samuel Ilobart, i.sq. in 1776. Jonathan Smiih and Isaac Brooks, 
Esquires, huvc beeu the successors of General i>.'iciiols. 



1775 The number of inhabitants according to an enu- 

meration made in 1775, amounted to 1428. The 
present meeting house was erected in 1771, r\nd consecrated 
to Divine worship in 1774. Rev. Mr. Wilkins delivered a 
dedication sermon in which he noticed the early transactions 
of the town. This sermon which doubtless would have afford- 
ed some important information for this sketch, is supposed 
to be irrecoverably lost. 

This year, A 'inerst was d prived of the active professional 
services of a vei-y useful citizen in the removal of Dr. Seth 
Ames, who had resided in this place several years and prac- 
tised ph si k with great reputation. He was brother to the cel- 
ebrated Fisher Ames, and p -ssessed a spark of that genius 
which shone v/itli such distinguished lustre iij that pre-eminent 
statesman. He graduated at Harvard College in 1764, in the 
same clats with a sou of Rev. iV'Ir. Wilkins of this town, and 
is represented by those who recollect him as a person of bril- 
liant talents and calculated to render important services to the 
commnr.'.ty. Hrs removal from town was occasioned by a 
declension of his health. He went to his friends in Dedham, 
where he died in 1776. 

The year 1775 i'. distinguished for the commencement of 
ho-itili'ies between this country and Grea. Britain. The gov- 
ernment at diis time consisted if committet-s and conventions, 
to wtich necessity induced obedience. 1 he first convention 
after atliiirs had assumed u threatening aspect, met at Exeter 
in 1774. Paul Dudley Sirgent represented this tov^n in that 
convention. In the same year, Benjamin Kendrick, Daniel 
Campbell, and Paul D. Sargent were chosen delegates for this 
town to another convention. They were directed and in- 
structed, "• to use their endeavours to secure peace and good 
order in he town, and use their utmost eftbrts to diffuse peace 
and good order throughout the community, and excite in the 
minds of the people a due respect to all just measures that 
n.ight be letomm.ended by the grand Congress of Philadel- 
phia " These gentlemen were re-chosen in March, 1775 for 
the same purposes. In the revolutionary war, this town had a 
large rumber of citizens, who united in opposing the op- 
pressive mea.Tures of Great Britain. The inhabitants not 
only opposed ihelr restrictive measures, but they treated those 
with rigour who did not. Such was the temperament of the 
publick mind in this vicinity, that those, and the number was 
but small, who were suspected of favouring the royal cause, 
were treated with a severity, which might be considered rep- 
rehensible, where fieedom ot opinion v/as tolerated. Heres)' 
in political opinion generated popular excesses, to which no 



14, 

effectual remedy could be administered.^*^ The inhabitants of 
the town were ardent in the cause of liberty. They manifest- 
ed their ardour and patriotism by a ready compliance with 
the requisitions of the Continental Congress, and the orders 
of the provincial conventions. When war actually commenc- 
ed by the attack of the British troops^ on the inhabitants of 
Lexington, this town furnished a company of soldiers, under 
the command of Capt. Jcsiah Crosby., who marched to the 
scene of action on the 20 April. Amherst furnished its full 
proportion of men for the military service of the United S.;iies. 
It appears from an authentick document, that prior to the first 
of April, 1777, one hundred and twenty persons were engaged, 
among whom were two Colonels, one Major, five Captains, 
and nine subaltern officers. 

That event which is annually celebrated in our country as 
the birth day of the nation, was proclaimed by Moses KtUey, 
Esq. sheriff of the county, with " beat of drum^" on the 18 
July, 17f6, from the rock near the meeting-house. 

It seems unnecessary to record the procctdings of the town 
in reference to the various events of the jevoliitionary war. 
A proportion of the difficulties and hardships of it was endur- 
ed by the officers arid soldiers, who engaged in it. Between 
twenty and thirty men belonging to this town, most in the 
prime and vigour of life, were lost by disease, or by being 
killed in battle.f Three of these were valuable officers, who 

* Several persons disaffected to the caiise of liberty were confined at the 
prison in this town. They made their escape. One of the Committee of Safe- 
ty, who had been very zealous against tl)e disaffected, seemed to apprehend evil 
consequences from their escape. Some one in order to ridicule his fears wrote 
a kind of pasquinade, from which the two concluding verses aie here added. 
" Pull off for blood and raise the town, 
Be careful to waylay the ground. 

Before they you pass by ; 
Watch every hollow, plain, and ridge, 
And set a guard at every bridge, 
And catch them nappingly. 

'• For all the people know it round. 

That I'm Committee for our town, 
And if these men be lost, 

I'll venture fifty pounds to one, 

That if the Congress hear they're gone, 
That I shall lose my Post." 
"i An attempt has been made to collect the names of the soldiers from what 
was then called Amherst, including a part of IWilford and Mont Vernon, and 
the result is here added. — James Hutchinson, at Bunker Hill ; John Cole, do. ; 

Dike,* at Still Water ; Ebenezer Wincoll Wright, at Winter Hill ; Asa 

Lewis,* at Bennington ; Jeremy Lampson, do. ; Nurse Sawyer, do. ; Wil- 
liam Henry Wilkins, at Valley Forge ; ilicharJ Goodman, do. ; Aaron Upton, 

died at Worcester ; Wilkins, Canada ; David Ramsay died at home ; 

Joseph Davis in the Gennessee country ; James Clark at Mount Independ- 
ence ; Levi Woodbury died a prisoner in England ; William Tuck ; Robert 
Cochran : Jonathan Cochran ; and one killed in Monmouth battle. Those 
vvith a star were killed. 



13 

(lied In the service of their country ; viz. Capt. Benjamin 
Taylor, at Winter Hill ; Capt. Daniel Wilkins, son of the 
minister, at Isle Aux Noix, on Lake Champlain in Canada, 
and I/ieiit. Joseph Bradford, at Winter Hill. 

Besides ihe loss of so many lives, the expense of the revo- 
lution to this town, from the 19 April, 1775, till the treaty of 
peace in i783, is stated in the town records to be £.3511 
lawful money, in addition to any bounties, travel, or wages, 
given or promised by the State, or the United States.* 
1 700 "^^'^ Aurean Academy in this town was incorporated 
this year. Charles Walker, A. M. was the first pre- 
ceptor. His successors were Daniel Staniford, A. M. ; Henry 
iVIoore, A. M. ; the late Jesse Appleton, D.D. President of 
Bowdoin College j Thomas Cole^ A. M. and several others.f 
As evidence of the flourishing state of this semmary, the follow- 
ing account of a visitation of it by the president and trustees on 
the 17 March, 1795, is given. "- On Tuesday last, the presi- 
dent and trustees of the Aurean Academy, attended an exam- 
ination of the students of said institution, and were happy to 
announce their pleasure and satisfaction at the progress and 
manly conduct of the students. The propriety and prompti- 
tude of their answers to the many questions proposed to theiu 
in anthmetick, Engiiah grammar, geography, &c. woidd have 
done honour to the finished scholar. The execution of their 
manuscripts, their elocution, and recitations in the languages 
were equal to their most sanguine expectations." It discon- 
tinued in 1801, for want of adequate funds. 

On the 23 May, died the Honourable Moses Nichols of 
this town. He had served his townsmen in the capacity of 
delegate to the Convention, which assembled in 1778, for 
forming a permanent plan or system of government on certaift 
established principles, and a representative to the General 
Court, two years. Ardently attached to the principles of lib- 
erty, he took a conspicuous part in the revolution which estab- 
lished our independence. He commanded a regiment under 
General Stark, and was in the engagement at Bennington. 
Besides his military services, he was useful as a physician in 
this place, where he practised many years. He was Register 
of Deeds for the county of Hillsborough, from 1776 to his 
death. This office, with many others of trust and responsi- 
bility, it is believed, he discharged with fidelity. 

The number of inhabitants, according to the census taken 
this year, was ^369. 

1792. The number of voters in the first parish this year 
was 227 ; in the north west parish, 109 ; total 336. 

* See Appendix No. II. 
t The names of the Preceptors will be found in the Appendix. 



IS 

. The General Court held their summer session iu 
this town. Governor Gilman for the first tiir.ecarae 
to the office of Chief Magistrate. 

The south west parish of Amherst, having petitioned the 
last year, to be detached as a separate town, obtained their 
request, and was incorporated 11 Januar}-, this year, by the 
name of Miljord. The town was formed by taking the Mile 
Slip, the Duxbury school farm, part of Koilis, and part of 
Amherst* About eighty families Were taken from this town* 
^H-Q- The first printing establishment in the county, was 
' " set up in this town by Nathaniel Coverly about this 
time. On the 16 January, "he commenced the publication of a 
newspaper, called the Amherst Journal and New-Hamp- 
shire Advertiser, which was continued by him and his son 
till the close of the year. It was succeeded on the 6 January, 

1796, by the Village Messenger, edited by William Big- 
low, a graduate of Harvard College, and by Samuel Cushing« 
Mr. Biglow, who i'^ knfi)wn as author of several elementary 
works for schools, continued his editorial labors but a short 
time. Mr. Gushing continued to publish it till 18 April, 

1797, when Samuel Preston succeeded, who closed the publi- 
cation of this paper, 5 December, 1801, completing 310 num- 
bers from Its establishment. 

The Farmer's Cabinet succeeded the Messenger, 11 
.November, 1802. It was edited and printed by Mr Joseph 
Gushing, till October, 1 809, when Mr- Richard B03 Iston, 
the present editor, succeeded to the establishment. A paper^ 
called the Hillsboro' Telegraph, was commenced the 
present year, by Mr. Elijah Mansur. 

1 '-07 ^^^^ Benevolent Lodge of free and accepted Masons 
was constituted on the 10 August. Hon. Samuel 
Dana was installed Master, Jonathan Gove, Esq. Senior War- 
den, and Capt. Luther Dana, Junior Warden- The Deputy 
Grand Master of New-Hampshire, and other officers of the 
Grand Lodge, attended on the occasion, and were met by the 
Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 
all in their regalia. The discourse was delivered by the late 
Rev. Dr. Bentley of Salem. 

I'-no "^^^ Honourable Samuel Dana, who had resided In 
this town about sixteen years, departed this life in 
April, at the age of 58. Of one, who filled so many im- 
portant stations in society, it seems proper to give some me- 
morial of respect. He was a native of that part of Cambridge, 
now called Brighton, where he was born 14 January, 1739. 
He was educated at Harvard College in the same class with 
President Adams, and several other distinguished characters. 
He graduated in 1755, and was ordained the minister of Grot- 
on in Massachusetts, on the 3 of June 1761. Here he con- 



It 

linueci till ITT^, when, on account of" some supposed politic- 
al heresy respecting our contest with Great-Britain," his pas- 
toral connexions were dissolved. " From this time, for some 
years, he was without any settled professional employment, 
or steady pursuit. But his talents were too well calculated 
for usefulness in life to suffer him long to continue in obscurity. 
In 1783, he was admitted and sworn as a practising attorney 
in the courts of law. His eminence, his integrity, and his at- 
tachment to the interest of his employers in this profession, 
are so fully known to this audience, as to render encomiam 
superfluous. It is suffici'^nt to say, that such was the general 
satisfaction with his services, that he continued in full prac- 
tice till the time of his decease. In 1790, he was appointed 
by the Supreme Executive of this State to the office of Judge 
of Probate for the county of Hillsborough. The important 
duties of that appointment he discharged with fidelity. Find- 
ing however that it interfered with his principal pursuit, and 
that the emolument bore no proportion to the toil, he relin- 
quished the office in a few jears. In 1793, he was called by 
the suffrages of his fellow-citizens to the dignity of Senator in 
the State Legislature. In that character, he took an active 
part in support of the law for abolishing the Courts of Ses- 
sions : a law which brought about an important and salutary 
revolution in the judicial system of this government. Many 
other offices of less note, some of which however were impor- 
tant, he discharged with reputation to himself and advantage 
to the community. 

In domestic life, he was no less distinguished for his vir- 
tues. Serenity of mind, conjugal tenderness and parental 
affection were eminent traits in his character."* 

On the 15 August, a rendezvous for the enlistment of sold- 
iers, agreeably to the act of Congress, was opened in this 
place, being the first here under the federal government. 
The company formed about this time belonged to the 16th 
U. S. Regiment, of which Rufus Graves, Esq. was Colonel. 
. In 1802, the town sustained a loss in the death of 

"* the Hon. William Gordon, who died at Boston, 8 
May, at the age of 39 At an early age he entered Harvard 
College, and received its honors in 1779. He engaged in a 
learned and arduous profession, in which his talents and integ- 
rity soon procured him an ample portion of business and fame. 
He had been a Senator in the State Legislature, a Representa- 
tive to Congress, and at the time of his death, was Attorney- 
General of the State of New-'Hampshire. His character is 
thus delineated in the publick papers. " His mind was not 
less adorned with learning than his heart with every manly 
virtue. His friendship was sincere — ^his benevolence active. 

* Hon. Timothy Bigelow's Oration Rt his intflrmcnt, April; 1798, 



IS 

Intcgrifev, constancv and truth marked his character. An hi- 
dependence of spirit, a purity of morals, and correctness of 
thought, raised him nbove the prejudices of party, the nienn- 
ress of avarice, and the frowns and flatteries of the world. "^* 
The north west part of the town, hi^ving been a separate par- 
ish more than twenty years, about this time, requested to be set 
off as a separate town. It war accordingly incorporated by the 
legislature, on the i 5 Dec. 1803, by the name of Mont Vernon, 
The Hundellian IMusical Society was incorporated in 
"' June, this year, for the purpose of introducing a more 
judicious taste for sacred musick. Its professed objects are, 
to cultivate the art of musick — to acquire and diiT">e a cor- 
rect taste — and to enjoy the refined pleasures of melody and 
harmony. For somefime previous to the formation of this 
society, insipidity and bombast were permitted to prevail in 
our churches, and the most delightful part of divine worship 
became polluted with unhallowed strains. To the m.embers of 
this society, which have belonged to this, and the adjoining 
towns, great credit is due for iheir exertions in checking a 
false and depraved taste, ard in effecting a desirable reforma' 
lion in church musick. 

„ The Hillsborough Bank was incorporated 18 June, 

for twenty years, with the privilege of a capital from 

50,000 to 200,000 doll ;^rs. The first bills were is.ued 17 

October. Its operation v/as suspended in 1809. Payment 

of bills was suspended in August. 

ifln'^ The only literary Society whirh has ever existed in 

town, wts formed this year, for the purpose of ad- 
vancing literary improvement, but like other institutions of a 
sirtnilar kind, fornr ed under smiilar circumstances, it has passed 
away and left few traces behind. It was however of suffi- 
cient consequence and importance as to deserve some notice 
in this tketch. It consisted of an association of literary gen- 
tlemen, who met every second Wednesday, when discussion 
of literary subjects, decli'mation, and original composition 
constituted the regular exercises. The neighbouring clergy, 
most of whom were honorary members, frequently attended 
and took past in the exercises. A library of well selected 
books, consisting of 240 volumes, augmented by a quarterly 
assessment on the men.berb, beonged to the society ; but this 
valuable stock of liierature was sold at public auction in May, 
1818. The whole number of members since the organiza- 
tion to the dissolution of the Society, was about sixty, of 
whom more than one half were liberally educated.f 

* Portsmouth Oracle, Vol. XII. No. 33. 

t Tht ColJowing geiitleruen succe-^sively presided over the Society. Charles 
il. An.erton A. iVi. ; (v v. 1 , hraio. t. Bradford, A, B. ; Rev. Jeremiah 
Barnard, A, M. and fcajwuei Curtis, A.M. 



19 

,aif) The number of inhabitants, according to the census 
taken this year was 1554. Of the males, 228 were 
under 10 years ; 131 from ten to sixteen ; 148 from sixteen 
to twenty-six ; 13() from twenty-six to forty-five, and ?23 
of fort v-nve ?.rid upwards. Ol the fr-males, 214 were under 
10 ; 122 from 10 to 16 ; 153 from 16 to 26 : 145 from 26 to 
4j ; and 1 50 of 45 ;;nd upwards. 

Having aoticed the princip l events of a civil nature, in the 
order in which they transpired, the writer will conclude this 
section of the history of the town with a few general remarks. 
H<irni-<ony and social interc )urse prevail, undisturbed by po- 
litical or religious feuds. Those disturbances v^hich create 
di -.5 rust ^nd jealousy among members of the same society, 
and which poison the source of domestic!: comfort, have sel- 
dom or never bc^en known here. The inh ibitants of this place 
have ever regarded our civil and religious institutions. It is 
a fact worthy of notice, that the church and congregation have 
never been destitute of a minister, during a period of almost 
seventy-nine years, which will carry us back within seven 
years of the first settlement. A love of social order has also 
prevailed. 

The learned professions* have been, and are still filled, by 
several gentlemen of eminence, who have received an honour- 
able support for their services. Manv persons of a liberal 
education hav« resided here. More than fifty might be enu- 
merated who have had either a permanent or temporary resi- 
dence in this town. Fourteen of its inhabitants! have gradu- 
ated at Harvard, Dartmouth, and Bowdoin Colleges. Four 
members from this State to Congress were resident in Am- 
herst. It has also furnished six Sei>ators:j: m the- State Legis* 
laiure, three Counsellors,<)one Judge of the Superiour Court, 
tv/o Justices of the Court of Common Pl-as, and several gen- 
tlemen to fill other important and respectable stations. The 
oHices kept in this town, are Clerk of the Superiour Court, 
Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, Register of Deeds, 
Register of Probate, and County Treasurer. 

* The Pastors of the Church are, Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, and Rer. 
Jfathan Lord, colleague. 

Atlornus at Law. Hon. Charles H. Atherton, Hon. Clifton Clagett, 
Hon. JedidiahK. Smith, Edmund Parker, Nathaniel Shattuck and Robert 
Means, jr. Esquires. 

Practitioner of Medicine, Matthias Spalding, M. D. 

t See Appendix, iSo. VII. 

X Hon. Robert Means, 1786, 1739 ; Samuel Dana, ; Joshua Ather- 
ton, 1793 ; William Gordon, 1794; Jedidiah K. Smith, 1804,1805,1806, 
1809 ; and William Fisk in 1810, 1811, 1812 and 1813. 

i Hon. Robert Means, 1786 ; Moses JSichols, — — ^ and J. K. Smith i« 
1«10, 1811, i8i,2, and 1813. 



HISTORY OF THE CHURCH 



IV 



AMHERST. 



THE Church in Amherst was imbodied on the 22 
September, 1741. The persons who laid the foundation of 
it were, Daniel Wilkins, the pastor elect, Samuel Leman, Israel 
Tcwne, Samuel Lampson, Caleb Stiles, and Humphrey Hobbs, 
The covenant, constituting these persons as the first Church in 
Amherst, is expressed as follows : 

" We do this day solemnly and explicitly enter into cove- 
nant with God, and with one another, in the following man- 
ner. In the first place. 

We give up ourselves to God, the Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost, as the only IHing ond true God, and unto Jesus Christ, 
our only Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King, avouching the 
Lord to be our God, and by the assistance of his Holy Spir- 
it, to cleave unto this one God and Mediator, as persons in 
solemn covenant with Him. 

2. We also promise to give up our natural offspring unto 
the Lord, solemnly binding ourselves to walk together in the 
ways of God's worship, and to cleave to his ordinances ac- 
cording to the rules of his word. 

3. We promise to live in the mortification of our own sin^ 
and to endeavour the mortification of it in others, so far as 
the rules require, and to submit ourselves to the government 
of Christ in his church, and to obey the orders tliereol. 

4. We promise to train up all, under our care in the nur- 
ture and admonition of the Lord. 

5. We promise to walk before God in our hcuses, and 
maintain the worship of God therein. 

6. We promise to study to maintain the peace and purity 
x>i the worship of God, with us, that the blessing of God may 
be vouchsafed to this part of his heritage." 

On the 23 September, 1741, Rev. Daniel Wilkins was or- 
dained to the pastoral care of the church. The ecclesiastical 
council who officiated on the occasion consisted of nineteen 
ministers and delegates. Rev. Nathaniel Henchman of I^ynn 
was moderator of the council. The other clergymen v/cre 
R^v. Andrew Peters of INliddleton, Rev. James Osgood of 
Wenham, Rev. Stephen Chase of Lynn, by whom the Ser- 



21 

mon was delivered, and Raw James Swan of Dunstable. 
Six females were admitted to church membership immediately 
after the ordination. The rite of baptism was administered, 
in September, the next year, to Deborah, daughter of William 
and Sarah Lancy, which is the first baptism on record. The 
sacrament was generally administered five times during the 
year. 

Rev. Mr. Wilkins was from IVIiddleton in Massachusetts. 
He received his education at Harvard College, where he grad- 
uated in 1736. He was considered a man of respectable tal- 
ents, and contributed greatly to the prosperity of the town- 
Though the clergy in his day did not possess the influence 
which the early ministers of New-England did, yet they were 
looked upon with great reverence and respect. " In the ear- 
ly periods of the church, there subsisted a close connexion 
between the civil and ecclesiastical orders of the state. Vari- 
ous causes operated, at times to diminish the influence of the 
Christian minister. As new settlements were made, parishes 
ucre multiplied. The means of subsistence and of knowledge 
to the pastors of these little flocks were necessarily narrow ; 
and they not unfrequently complained that they prophesied in 
sackcloth. Want of knowledge and of wealth was conse- 
quently want of power. Yet with all their poverty and the 
disadvantages of their situation, they possessed their full 
share of talents and virtue, and were therefore not tu be con- 
temned nor neglected. They remembered the views, which 
planted New-England ; and, if they had not the learning, they 
were still animated with the spirit of their protession. 
Though the civilians of that day acknowledged and revered 
their piety, yet they provided with a jealous eye against the 
increase of hierarchal rule. So that the churches notwith- 
standing their professions and boast of independency, were aC" 
tually under a kind of political control ; and on the contrary, 
through the influence of the clergy, magistrates, who were 
annually elected, were occasionally displaced when they were 
thought to have infringed against the rights of the church." 

For a number of years after the settlement oi Mr. Wilkins, 
the inhabitants of this place experienced the dai/ of small things* 
They were unable to contribute to his support in a manner 
suited to his clerical character. On this account, he was 
sometimes pressed into services incompatible with his sacred 
profession. He assisted in subduing the wilderness, while he 
administered to the spiritual wants of his parishioners. The la- 
bours of agriculture he was sometimes necessitated to perform. 

In his theological investigations he had the assistance of a 
respectable library. The works of Owen, Hammond, and 
other distinguished divines of the seventeenth century made 
a part of it. 



^2 

He had ten children, to one of whom he gave a liberal edu- 
cation. Three of his gr^indsons have received the honours ol 
Harvard and Dartmouth Colleges, two of whom are attornics 
at law ; the other a student of divinity at the college where he 
graduated. 

Hev. Mr. Wilhins died 11 Fehi'uary, 1784, in the t3d year 
of his age Foity o-'.e vev.r? hnd elapsed from his settlement, 
but he had been unable for several years to discharge the d 'ties 
of his ministry in consequence of h's infirmities. In 1778, 
the church and town invited JMr. John Blrdenburgh to settle 
as a coilcj'gue with him in the ministry. I'he subject of a set- 
tlement was referred to a com.n ittee, viho reported ve/y iibeial 
proposals,* considering the situation of the town, but they ap- 
pear uot to have been accepted. After cx(en?iiug a similar 
unsuccessful invitation to Rev. Edmund Foster, udw of Lit ie- 
ton, Massachusetts, the Church and town in 1779, gave a call 
to Kev. Jeremiah Earned from Bolton. f From this period, 
a portion of the history of the town, will be blended with the 
history of the church. 

There were certain circumstances, which at this time, 
operated unfavorably towards the settlement of any person as 
a colleague with Mr. Wilkins. The principal one, was the 
opposition of two distinct sections of the town, which were 
desirous of becoming separate parishes. They had remon- 
strated against the settlement of Mr. Blydenburgh, and they 
had now gathered fresh opposition. Though a respectable 
majority of the town was in favour of the settlement of Mr. 
Barnard, yet there was a considerable number in the north 
west part of the town who entered iheir protest. The inhab- 
itants of that section of the town had conditioned to pay their 
full proportion toward the support of Kev. Mr. Wilkins, and 
of every charge with the town, until they should provide them- 
selv'es with preaching, if they might but be permitted lo enjoy 
the privileges of a parish. But the town would listen to no 
proposals of separation. Accordingly, thirty two persons 
protested against the settlement of Mr. Barnaicl. A consid- 
erable part of them had protested against the settlement of 
Mr. Blydenburgh, and they now declared, that they should 
object against the settlement " of any other minister, while 
they remained in conjunction with this town, and their re- 
quest not granted.'* 

* Tlie town voted £.200 for a settlement, allowing it to be made equal tft 
corn at 3*4 per bushel, and fresh pork at 4d per pouud ; and an annual salary 
«f £. 100. 

t The town roted to give Mr. Barnard £.120 lawful money as a settlement, 
and an annual salary of £.'M till tiie expiration of two years after the wa,' 
'.Tith Great Britain should cea&e, when it should be augmented to £.90. 



23 

The first of March was fixed upon for the day of Rev. Mr* 
Barnard's ordination, but for the reasons just stated, he was 
not ordained till Friday, the third day of March, when the 
following; order of exercises took place. Rev. J;!Cob Bigelow 
of Siulbary made the introductory prayer ; Rev. Z 'hdiel Ad- 
ams of Lunenburgh preached from ^Iatthevv 10: 16 ; Rev« 
Eljeiiczer Bridge of Chelmsfo! d g.ive the charge ; Rev. Daniel 
Emerson ot Hollis expressed the fellowship of the church- 
es ; and Rev. Josiah Bridge of East-Sudbury made the 
concluding prayer. 

From the ordinciiion of Rev. Mr. Barnard to the year 1816, 
the records of the church do not present anv very remarkable 
transaction. During this period two churches were formed ; 
one in the north west part of the town, over which was ord.un- 
ed Rev. John Bruce* from Marlborough, Massachusetts ; the 
other in the sor.ih west part of the town, which did not re- 
ceive a minister till after this portion of the town was incor- 
porated by the name of Milford. 

In 181.5, elToi-ts v/ere made towards settling a colleague 
with Rev. Mr. Barnard, whose parochial duties had for some 
considerable ti\ne l)een very arduous, and which, during the 
sick'.jess of 1814', had evidently impaired his health. Per- 
ceiving the importance of adi^pting measures which might 
lessen the labours of him who had so long laboured among 
them in the ministry, and considering the diffictilties which 
might arise from delaying the subject, the inhabitants, at a 
publick town meeting, chose a committee,! 18 September, 
1815, " to consult with Rev. Mr. B irnard, and ascertain 
upon what terms he would consent to have a colleague 
seitle Wiih him in the ministry." On the 30 October, Mr. 
Barnaid made a communication on the subject, through 
the committee to the town, from which the foiloAving 
is extracted. " Gentlemen of the committee, I thank the 
town for their politeness in consulting me upon a subject cf 
so mttch consequence to their peace and haptiiness, and by a 
committee so respectable, of whose friend.ihip to me aiid re- 
gard to the best interests of the tov/ii I entertain no doubt." 
After st.iting the extent and arduousness of his labours for the 
two preceding years, and the "■ unusual efforts" made to ac- 
complish them, with a view that in his present debilitated 
state, that '' th 't correctness, precision, and fi jw of good ar- 
gument, so beautiful in composition, and that energy and 

* Rev. John Bruce, was ordained 3 November, 1785; diefl 11 March, 
1809, aged 52. A sketch of his life and character, written by a Parishioner, 
[Dr. Rogers bmith] is annexed to two Discourses of Rev. Stephen Chapin, 
his successor in the ministry, publisJied in 1809. 

t Hon. Charles H. Atherton, Hon William Fisk, Hon. Clifton Clagett, 
Hod. ilobert Means, and Dr. Matthias Spalding. 



24 

pathos so pleasing in delivery, always gratifying to an atten- 
tive hearer, which mic^ht be expected from a man in the prime 
and meridian of life" could no longer be expected in his 
" wintry age," he proceeds : " From these considerations^ 
gentlemen, and a desire that my people may be better furnished 
with the means of Christian ediflcauon and instruction, I am 
willing, yea it will afford me a peculiar favour, should it be a 
gratification to them, to relinquish to the town, the one half 
of my present salary, whenever ihey shall have settled anoth- 
er man with me, to take the burden and responsibility of the 
ministry off of m)^ hands." 

This generous proposal was accepted, and a committee was 
appointed, to procure a candidate to supply the desk the ensu- 
ing four Sabbaths. Mr. Nathan Lord of South Berwick, in 
Maine, was procured, and preached his first sermon to this 
people, on the 2i December. On the 13 January, 1816, the 
church voted unanimously, to invite Mr. Lord to settle in 
the work of the ministry with them, and take the watch and 
cversiglit of the Church, and the congregation, as colleague 
v/ith Rev. Jeremiah Barnard. On 19 January, the town vot- 
ed to concur with the church in giving Mr. Lord an invitation 
to settle over the church and congregation. They at the same 
time voted an annur.l salary of S700, and an addition of Si 00 
more, when he should remain alone in the ministr}', Mr. 
Lord accepted their invitation, and v/as oi darned 22 May, 
Yvhen an ecclesiastical council was fermed by ministers and 
delegates from seven churches. On this occasion, the intro- 
ductory prayer was made by Rev. Thomas Beede of Wilton ; 
sermon by Rev. Asa P/f'Farland, D. D. froxn Mark xiii. 4 ; 
conbtcrating prayer by Rev. David M'Gregore of Bedford j 
charge by the senior Pastor ; fellowship of the churches by 
Rev. Humphrey Moore cf Milford, and concluding prayer by 
Rev. Stephen Chapin of JMont-Vernon. 

Since the seltlement of Rev. Mr. Lord, betv.een 50 and 40 
have been admitted members of the church ; 49 have been 
baptized, of which 23 v.'cre males and 26 females. 

The baptisms dv.i'ing the ministry of the lust Pastor of the 
church are but partially recorded. The records kept by him, 
present the names of about 240, baptized, of both sexes. The 
fur greater part of these occur during the latter years of his 
ministry, ami prior to 25 August, 1779. 

The number of baptisms during 29 years of the Rev. IMr. 
Barnard's ministry, to wit, from 3 March, 1780, to 1 January, 
1809, was 773. Of these 383 were males ; 390 were females. 
The number of marriages by Mr. Barnard to January, 1813, 
was 309. The number of deaths in his parish from his settle- 
iv^ent to the 1 January, the present year, was 730. 



APPENDIX. 



NO. I. 

Concise Notices cf some of the Jirst Inhabitants^ and others 
who settled in toxvn befyre the revolution, 

[Nearly eighty six years have passed away since the primitive inhabitants of 
this place arrived and effected a settlement. To the enquiry, Our Fathers, 
where are they ? we may emphatically reply, they have ail descended into 
the grave, and there remains not one, who came up at the first. But the 
writer has endeavoured to collect some memorials of them, which he pre- 
sents, under the following concise notices.] 

Israel Towne was one of the founders of the church. 
He died in 1791, in his 87th year. He, with two brothers, 
Jonathan and Elisha, were among the first settlers. He had 
five sons, Thomas, Israel, Moses, Archelaus and Gardner, 
Jonathan had two sons, Jonathan and Aaron. Elisha had 
two, Bartholomew and Thomas. 

John Washer, who was one of the first inhabitants, came 
from England at the age of ten years. He married Hannah 
Wilkins, of Middleton, Massachusetts, who died at Mont- 
Vernon in 1 808, aged 89, leaving her fifth generation. He 
was the first and only man of his name in this country ; and 
their descendanf^, in the male line, are all of the name now 
known in the United States.* 

William Peabody, one of the original proprietors, was 
here as early as 1742, perhaps earlier. He was one of the se- 
lectmen, and captain of the militia. He was father to Col. Ste- 
phen Peabody, who died at Mont- Vernon, and of William 
Peabody, Esq. of IVIilford. 

John Shepard came from that part of Concord near-Acton. 
He settled here about 1741. He was a lieutenant colonel of 
the ninth regiment of foot under Col. John Goffe in 1767 ; 
and was afterwards colonel. He left five sons ; John., who 
was a Justice of the Peace and of the Inferior Court, and who 
died in 1801 ; Benjamin., who died in 1810, aged 71 ; Samuel^ 
who is living ; Jotham, who died at Boston, in 1815 ; and 
Daniel^ who died at Milford. 

Ebenezer Ellenwood was among the first inhabitants. 
It appears from the town records that he was here as early 
as 1739. 

John Beaton, with his three sons, emigrated from Ireland, 
and came to this town from Andover, Mass. Ha died here 

* The Farmers' Cabinet, Vol. VI. No. 20.— 1808. 
D 



■26 

ai an advanced age. His son JoJin was here as early as 1744. 
He was a deacon of the church from 5 Jan. 1774 to his re- 
moval from town. He died in April, 1793, at Washington, 
in this state. Samuel^ was one of the selectmen, and died 
about 1796. yames^ was a resident here, and died before 
his other brothers. 

Robert Stewart, with two sons, John and Samuel, set- 
tled here as earlv as 1749. He came from Glasgow, in Scot- 
land, lived a while in Andom;r, Massachusetts, from whence 
he came to this town. 

William Bradford was here about 1743. His brother^ 
Capt. Andrew Bradford, who died at Milford in 1 798, aged 
80, was here perhaps as early. The widow of Andrew, Han- 
nah Bradford, died at Milford, 14 December, 1819, aged 96, 
leayinp a numerous posterity. William was father of the late 
Major William Bradford. 

BrNjAMiN KxNDRiCK came from Newton in Massachusetts, 
and settled here in 1749, where he resided till his death, 13 
November, 1812, in the 89th \ ear of his age. He was great 
grandson of John Kenritk, (as die name ought to be spelt) 
who cnme from England, and settled at Newton, where he 
died 29 August, 1686, aged 82- His intermediate ancestors 
were John and Caleb. Of ihe latter, he was the second son, 
and born 30 January, 1 724. 

JosiAK CuosBY was a native of Billet ica, and descended 
from Simon Crosby, one of the early inhabitants of that place. 
He was one of the selectmen, a repi esentative to the General 
Court, two years, and commanded a company at Bunker Hill 
Battle in l775. He died in October, 1793, aged 63. 

Hezekiah Lovejoy was an inhabitant as early as 175L 
He was a captain of the militia, and held several town offices. 
He died 6 April, 1793. His mother, who lived to be almost 
one hundred und txvo years of age, di«d in this town, 1 Decem- 
ber, 1805, havmg had 336 descendants. 

RoBFRT Read was originally of Westford, but came last 
from Litchfield to this town, in which he was one of the early 
settlers. He was one of the selectmen, and a colonel of the 
militia. He died 13 Septembtr, 1803, aged 83. 

NA.THAN Kend.'^ll was son of N:.than Kendall of Litch- 
field, and a descendant of Francis Kendall, who settled at 
Woburn, 1644.* He was an inhabitant of Amherst as early 
as 1754 ; was one of the selectmen and captain of the militia, 
Sec. He died 19 September, 1791, aged 66, leaving six sons, 
all of whom are living. 

Solomon Kiitredge, from Tewk^bivy, was a descendant 
from John Kittredge, one of iht- early inhabitants of Billerjca, 

* See the Century Sermon of Rev. Samue] Kendall, D. D. delivered at 
Weston, 1812. 



27 

who died 18 October, 1676, leaving five sons, from whom all 
of the name in N<\v« England, and perh-^ps in the United 
States, are descended. He lived in that part of Amherst which 
is novv Mont-Vern^'n, where a number of his posterity reside. 

Pf.tfr Wo'tdbur-y, though an earlv settler, was not one of 
the first inhabitants. He came from Beverly to this town. 
He was chosen a meT.ber of the (ieneral Court, and was one 
of the selectmen ^evcral years. He died in Antrim in March, 
1819, aged 81. His sons were Lr-vi, Jesse, Peter, and Mark, 
of whom Prter is the fither of the Hon. Judge ^Voodbury. 

William Fiske was son of Dtacon William Fiske of 
Wenham, and probabh desrendc:d from the same family with 
the Kev. John Fiske, who was bcrn about the year 1601, in 
the parish of Si. James, Suffolk in England, and was the first 
minister of the towns of Wmham and Chelmsford, Massa- 
chusetts. The ancestor of this distinguished clergyman was 
one of the six brethren in the reign of Q,Lieen Mary, 1555, ol 
whom three wrre papists, and three were protestants. The 
curious enquirer is referred to Mather's Magnalia for a fur- 
ther account of his family. Mr. Fiske, first mentioned, died 
about ITTr, and some of his posterity, which principally reside 
in this state, Vermont, and in New- York, have held honourable 
and important c ffices. 

Heuben Mussey, one of the first selectmen chosen in town, 
and a representative to the General Court in 1778, was father 
to Dr. John Mussey of Peterborough, and Mr. Reuben 
Dimond Mussey who died in 1819, aged 66, at Pomfret in 
Vermont. 

Jonathan Smith came from Danvers, and settled here 
several years before the revolution. He died in March, 1795, 
leaving two sons, Jonathan Smithy Esq. who was Register of 
Deeds from 1790 to 1802 ; and Hon. Jcdidiali K. *>mith^ who. 
has been a me;noei of Congress, Counsellor and Senator of 
this St Jte, and is now one of the Justices of the Circuit Court 
of Common Pleas. 

Joshua Atherton was descended from an ancient family 
in Dorchester, Mas achusetts. He settled here before 1775'. 
He was a representative of the General Court in 1792 ; a Sen- 
ator in 1793, and subsequently Attorney General of the State. 
He was a gentleman of liberal education, and graduated at 
Harvard College in 1762. 

Francis Ellut came from Middleton, and settled here as 
early as 1755. Nathav Fuller, as early as 1758. Ed- 
VvTARD Lyon was one of the first settlers and died 4 January, 
1798, aged 88. Many others, who well deserve notice as the 
eany inhabitants of the place, the writer will be obliged to 
omit, as he has not authorities at hand which he can cite witW 
perfect confidence. 
I 



28 



NO. ir. 

[The expense of tfte American liar is slated on Hit authority of the folloW' 

ing document.] 

September 9, 1791. — Received the accounts of the Selectmen of Amherst, 
for hiring soldiers to serve in the anny of the United States for the town of 
Amherst, when at war with Great Britain, from April the 19th, 1775, till the 
Treaty of Peace, and find it, in addition of any bounties, travel, or wages given 
or promised by the State, or the United States, to be in specie, s. d. 

£.3511 0. 
A true copy., Attest., Pr. JOSHUA LOVEJOY, Town Clerk. 

Col, Moses Nichols' Regiment at West Point, - - £.180 

An average made in 1777 for soldiers that had served in the war, cost 480 
To soldiers servin": in Col. David Oilman's regiment 

Capt. William Walker's comptiny served in New-York in 1776, 39 

To soldiers in Col. Feabody's regiment, sent to Rhode-Island, 106 

To soldiers serving in Col. Nahum Baldwin's Regt. at New-York, 72 

To 10 continental soldiers for three years from 1781, 600 

To 20 soldiers to serve in 1776, in Capt. Barron's company, Wy- ) gnn 

man's Regiment, ^ 

To 11 soldiers served at Charlestown, 1781, 132 

To 9 soldiers, 1781, six months, new levies, so called, 270 

To 11 soldiers, 1780, to serve six months, new levies, 330 

To 5 do. at Coos, Capt. Stone's eompany, 150 

To 9 do. Colonel Mooney's Regt. -108 

To 13 do. from 1783, three years men, 845 

£.3511 

NO. III. 
PASTORS 

Of the CHURCH in AMHERST^ since its formation. 

1. Rev. DANIEL WILKINS, A. M. graduated at Harvard College in 1736; 
ordained 23 Septe.i ber, 1741 ; and died 11 February, 1784, aged 73. 

IT. Rev. JEREMIAH BARNARD, A. M. graduated at Harvard College in 
1773 ; ordained 3 March, 1780. 

III. Rev. NATHAN LORD, A.M. graduated at Bovirdoin College in 1809; 
ordained 22 May, 1816. 

DEACONS, 

JFith the time of their election^ death or resignation. 

Elected — Jan. 6, 1743, HtrMPHHEY Hobbs, resigned 1774. 

*' June 3, 1743, Joseph Boutell, diedMay 19, 1795. 

" 1774, James Cochran, died Jan. 5, 1774. 

" Jan. 5, 1774, Samuel Wilkins, resigned 18I6. 

*' Jan. 5, 1774, John Seaton, removed from town, 1787. 

*' Jan. 5, 1774, Nahum Balbwiiv, died May, 1788. 

" June 18, 1783, Ephraim Barker, died, 1800. 

*' Jiir.e 18, 1783, Joshua Lovejot, resigned. 

*' .Sept. 3, 1795, Amos Elliot, died April 7, 1807, 

" Sept. 3, 1795, Jouw Seaton. 

" Sept. 1, 1808, John Hartshorn. 

" May 29, 1817, Matthias Spalbixg. 

" May 29, 1817, David HtiLWEs. 



29 



NO. IV. 
REPRESENTATIVES OF AMHERST— ruoja 1778. 

TThe name? of th'^ Representatives prior to 1778, have not been obtained. 
It seems (hat for several years before the revolutionary war commenced, 
Amh' rst was classed with Bedford in choosini; them, and from Mein and 
Fleen'ing''s R,egister of New-Fngland for 1768, it appears that Col. Joha 
Goffe was representative for the preceding year.] 



1778. Josl-.h C)o-,by, 

" R«uben Mussey, 

1779. Josiah Crosby, 

" Srephen Pc 'body, 

1780. Simuel Wilkins, 
"• Nahum Baldwin, 

178i. Moses Nichols, 
1783- Robert Means, 

" Thomas Burns, 
1784. Robert Means, 
1786. VVilHam Peabody, 
1789 Robert Means, 
1790. Daniel VVarner, 



1792. Joshua Atherton, 

1793. Daniel Warner, 

1799. Daniel Warner, 
" William Fisk * 

1800. William Biadtbrd, 
1803. Jedidiah K. Smith, 
1805. William Fisk, 
1810. William Low, 
1813. Edmund Parker, 
1814 William Low, 

1815. Edmund Parker, 

1816. Clifton Clagett,' 

1817. Edmund Parker. 



* Who was chosen in Augnst for the Fall Session. Daniel Warner Lad 
been chosen in March, but being appointed to an office under the United 
States' government, he resigned the office of representative. 

NO. V. 
TOJV^r CLERKS /AT AMHERST. 

[The Town Records commence with the incorporation of the town in 1760 : 
but they are extremely irregular and confused, as they contain the pro- 
ceetiings of the town, tax lists, location of roads and highways, births, 
deaths and marriages, &c. all registered in the same volume without order 
or method. The Tropriety Records begin with the grants of the General 
Court of Massachusetts in 1728, and 1732, and terminate about the yeai 
I77I. These are in the hands of Daniel Campbki.l, Esquire, to whosfc 
politeness the writer acknowledge? his obligations for the use of them.] 

17C0. Solomon Hutchinson, 1778. Nahum Baldwin, 



1761. Solomon Hutchmson, 

1762. Joiin Shepard, 

1769. Thomas Wakefield, 

1770. John Shfcpa.d, 

1773. Moses Nichols, 

1774. Samuel Wilkins, 



1779. Thomas Wakefield, 
1784. Samuel Wilkins, 
1790. Joshua Lovejoy, 
1794, William Fi^k," 
18 i 2. John Ellen wood, 
1815. Robert Read. 



NO. VL 

CAPTAINS OF THE MHATIA COMPANIES. 

[The following is a tolerably correct list of names of those who have commavd- 
td the militia companies in town, though it does not pretend to give the 
exact order in which they succeeded each other, nor will it in all cases dis' 
criminate the compa7iies,'\ 

A- illiam Peabody, Israel ToAvne, John Shepard, Robert Read, Archelans 
Towue, John Bradford, Nathan Kendall, Hezekiah Lovejoy, Moses Brown, 
Jeremiah Hobson, William Fisk, Joseph Nichols, Joseph Harvell, Philip Ea- 
ton, Daniel Campbell, jr. Josiah Convcrs, Benjamin P. Brown, *Ephraim 
fiildreth, *Samuel Shepard, William Bradford, *William Stewart, *Thomj.s 
Wakefield, *Nathaniel Emerson, *CheophilHs Pace,* David M'G. Mean?,* 
*Amos F:jliot., *Edmund Parker, *Robcrt Read, *Thomas Wilkins. 
Those witU a star couniianded the West Company. 



so 
NO. VI r. 

EDUCATION. 

ACADEMY. 

The AuREAif Academy has been the only publick literary institution ii« 
town. The gentlemen who superintended it were as follows. 

Charles Walker, Joshua Heyvvood, 

Daniel Staniford, William Abbot, 

Henry Moore, Daniel Weston, 

J'-sse Appleton, Peyton R. Freeman, 

William Crofiby, James M'Pherson, 

William Bigiow, Thomas Cole. 

DISTRICT SCHOOLS. 
There are in this town nine school districts, all of which are supplied 
with school houses. In the winter of I8I7 — 18, there were instructed in these 
districts, 527 scholars, of whom 105 were taught Arithmetick and 86 the ele- 
ments of English Grammar. The school-house in the centre district, is 38 
feet in length, 30 feet in width, two stories high and has a cupola. It was 
erected in 1806, and since that time, during the winter, there have been the 
following 

INSTRUCTERS, 
Winter of Winter of 

18oe-7. Caleb Emerson, 1813-14. Js. M'K. Wilkins, 

1807-8. Nathan K. Clough, 1814-15. Timothy Parkhurst, 
1808-9. Nathan K. Clough, 1815-16. Charles White, 
1809-10. Wm. F. Morrison, 1816-17. Steph. I. Bradstreet, 
1810-11. Abraham Andrews, 18)7-18. Thos. W. Duncan, 
1811-12. William Gordon, 1818-19. Francis Danfortb, 
1812-13. James M'K.Wilkins, 1819-20. Jeremiah Stow, 

SUMMER SCHOOLS. 

There has been annually a school kept during the summer and autumnal 
months, since 1803, of which the following is a list cf the 

INSTRUCTERS, 

1803. Ephraim P. Bradford, 1810. Wm. F.Morrison, 

1804. Thomas Woolson, jr. 1811. John Walker, 

1805. Samuel M'Conihe, 1812. James M'K. Wilkins, 

1806. Steplien How, 1813. John Farmer, till 1818, 

1807. Nathan K. Clough, 1818. Samuel Whiting, 
18G8. Do. 1819. Abel F.Hildreth, 
1809. George Kimball,* 1820. Gideon L. Soule.f 

'* Mr. Kimballleft in August, and from Ihmce till IQ ^'ovemher, 1809, 
William F. Morrison instructed. The school from, 1807 to I8I2, inclusive^ 
was kept in the centre district school house ; since I8l2, it has been kept tn 
the court house. The ai^gre.gate number of scholars each year for the last 
tirelve years added together, give a total of between 650 and 700. JVotc. There 
■uas a summer school in tovn before the Academy was instituted., which wai 
instructed by Isaac Brooks, Esq. tiow Register of Deeds. 

1 Mr. Si-'/Jc, u'ho is engaged for the present season, commenced 3 Maij. 



^i 



NO. VIII. 

Jyathes and Inhabitants of Amherst who have graduated at 

College. 

■Ora-i. HARVARD COLLEGE. 

1764. John Wilklns, A. M. son of the Rev. Daniel Wilkins. He died at 

Athens, Ohio, in 1803. 
t788. .Jacob Kimball, A. M. son of Mr. Ebenezer Kimball. 

1794. Charles Humphrey Atherton, A. M. S. A. S. late a member of Con- 

gress, son of Hon. Joshua Atherton, 

1795. Daniel Weston, A. M. son of Mr. Daniel Weston. He is a ministtr 

of Gfay in Maine. 

1806. William "Gordon, A. B. son of Hon. William Gordon. 

I8I3. James Freeman Dana,* A. M.— M. D. Adj. ad Prof. Chem. et Chem. 

Prelector Col. Dart, son of JjUther Dana, Esq. 
I8I3. Samuel Luther Dana, A. M. M. D. brother to the preceding. 
I8I8. John Hubbard Wilkins, A. B. son of Samuel Wilkins, Esq. 

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. 
1803. Reuben Dimond Mussey, A. M. M. D. Col. Dart, et Univ. Penn. 

Med. et Chem. Prof. Col. Dart. M. M. S. el A. A. S. He is son of 

Dr. John Mussey of Peterborough. 
I8I2. Benjamin Frederick French, A. B. son of Frederick French, Esq. 

1812. James McKeen Wilkins, A. M. son of Mr. Jonathan Wilkins. 

1813. Levi Hartshorn, A. B. son of Mr. Edward Hartshorn. He was or.' 

dained at Gloucester, Ms. 18 October, I8I5, and died at Amheist, 
while on a visit, 27 September, 1819, aged 30. 

1814. Allen Fisk, A. B, son of Hon. William Fisk. He is a counsellor at 

Law in the city of New-York. 

BOWDOm COLLEGE. 

1807. Robert Means, A. M. son ol Hon. Robert Means. 

Entd. Undergraduates at Harvard College. 

I8I8. Charles Gordon Atherton, son of Hon. Ch. H. AthertoUi 
1818. Stephen Russell Holmes, son of Dea. David Holmes. 

NO. IX. 

PttYSICIAJVS /JV AMHERST. 

[this list is not completk.] 

Moses Nichols, who is noticed in the preceding sketch under 1790. 

Henry Codman, son of an emigrant from Ireland, was u practitioner more 
than 30 years. He was born in this town, 24 January 1744 ; died 14 March 
I8I2, aged 68. 

Samuel Curtis, A. M. son of Rev. Philip Curtis of Sharon, commenced 
practice here in 1789- 

Nathaniel Henchman, was son of an eminent physician of the same name 
at Lynn, where he was born 4 May, 1762. He commenced practice here in 
1783 ; died 27 May, ICOO, aged 38. 

Rogers Smith, a uative of Mont-Vernon, practised here several years prior 
to 1808. 

Moses Nichols, son of Dr. Moses Nichols, practised here from 1805 to ISII, 
when he removed to the British dominion?. 

Matthias Spalding, A. M. M. D. S. M. S. Neo. Hant. Praeses, commenc- 
ed practice here in 1805. 

*His name, which is put JonaihaLXi Freeman Dana in the Harvard CatU' 
log\i.e, has been lately altered as above by an cct of the Legislature of Ma '^■ 
eachitsetts. 



32 



BILL OF MORTALITY 

FOR AMHERST, JV. //. FOR TEJ^ YEARS ; 
Commencing January 1, 1805, and ending January 1, 1815. 

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13 


H 


~o 


~3 


7 


3 


10 


4 


~9 


10 


16 


"sio 


~6 


1 


i!|~r— 


225 



■Aggregate and overage cf ages each year. 





No of 


A-greg. 


Average 




No. of 


Acrgreg. Average 


\ears. 


Deaths. 


amount of 


age. 


Years. 


Deaths. 


aoit. of age. 


J 805 


29 


ages . 
841 


29 


1810 


21 


ages. 
5fi7 27 


180G 


18 


5?.-5 


32 


1811 


9 


420 4G 


1807 


27 


1027 


38 


1812 


IS 


^55 47 


1808 


20 


500 


25 


1SI3 


22 


569 25 


1809 


14. 


458 


32 


1814. 


47 


1107 23 


10 year?. 22tj 


Deaths. 


6929 agg 


regate amount of 


ages. 31 mean av- 


prage a>»e. Thos 


e whoso ages are not 


mentioned were children, nnd would 


nol ma 


.erially affect tlic above result- 









jRimarks, The moft considerable part of the foregoinpr was pre- 
pared the last year, and intended to accompany the sketch of Am- 
herst, publiehcfd in the gecond voluone of the 8eco"d seriea of the Col- 
lections. Much care and attention have been beftowed to render the 
preceding tables correct and intelligible. It appears from the Jirst that 
the num''>er of deaths \» June, Oitoher, and N vember, were consider- 
ably less th'.n in any other months, consequently we may suppose 
these were more favorable to health. The whole number which have 
died during the ten years, is 225, (not including 8 ftrangers who have 
died in town) of whoai 121 were of adult age Of this number 59 
were males and 62 were females. F'om a co\jrse of observationa 
made in the eastern part of this state, and in several towns in Massa- 
chusetts, it is found that the proportion of those who die below the 
age of 1 6 is the same as those ab'.ve 16. This will not however ap- 
ply to the number of deaths in this town during the above period, 
though it might for a longer time. Of the 225 who have diec*, 100 
were under ihca^e of 16, and 125 were above that age, leaving an ex- 
cess of 25. Under the age of 20 years, 106 have died, an! above 20, 
119 have died. Under the age of 25, 117 have died, and above, 108. 
Of those who attained the age of 60 years and upward?, 6 died in 
January, 4 in February, 6 in March, 7 in April, 7 in May. 3 in Jcne, 
6 in July, 4 in Auguet, 5 in September, 4- in Oftuber, 2 in Novem- 
ber, ana 4 in December. Of those above feventy years, 12dtiedin 
winter, 10 in the epnnp, 11 in th^ summer, and 6 in autumn. Of 
the above number, (225) the writer has ascertained as many as -iO. 
which have died of consumption, and this, doubtlens, is near the cor- 
rect nuinlier. Of these, 1 1 died in winter, 10 in the spring, 13 in 
the summer, and 6 in the autumnal months. It has been remarked 
that complaints of the pulmonary kind are more frequent, ani* p^-ove 
more fatal, altera winter of extreme cold. This remaik is, probably, 
tiue, if the extreme cold is iromciliateiy succeeded by a warm and 
early spring. The human cor.stitntion, braced by cold, cannot with 
impunity bear the subsequent relaxation, especially when there is a 
predisposition to such complaint .* 

The number of deaths fr-tm 1 January, 1815, the time when the 
foregoing Tables conclude, to the 1 January. 1820, was as follows; 
In 1815—34-; 18l6— 20 ; 1817—22; 1818—23; 1819—19: 
total 118. Oi this number abont 18 died under 1 year of age ; 23 
between 1 and 5 ; 2 between 5 a-id 10 ; 2 between 10 and 15 ; 7 
between 15 and 20 ; 8 between 20 and 25 ; 6 between 25 and 30 ; 

4 between 30 and 35 ; 4 between 35 and 40 ; 4 between 40 anr 45 ; 
3 between 45 and 50 ; 3 between 50 and 53 ; 2 between 55 and 60; 
£ between 60 and 65; 3 between 65 and 7u ; 4 between 70 and 75; 

5 between 75 and 80 ; 3 between 80 and 85 ; 5 between 85 and 90 ; 
1 between 90 and 95 ; and 2 between 95 and 100 : Nine died ia 

* For a few remarks on the application of this observation to the period 
embraced bj the foregoing tables, see Historical Collections. Vol. 4, second 
series, pages 75, 76. 

E 



34. 

January, 8 in Febryary, 12 in March, 1 1 in April, 20 in May, 10 io 
June, 9 in July, Sin August. 11 m September, 9 in October, 5 in 
Novembt"", and 7 'n Dtcenber. The aggregate amount of ages of 
tliesf 118, is S583 yea^-s, giving a mean average to each of 30 years. 
— Almost one half of the number lived to '2.5 years or upwards. In 
the course of fiftetn years, the whole rumber of deaths has been SI'S, 
of which 60 persons, above a sixth part, attained to 70 years or 
upwards. . 

The oldefl. native of tlie tow n residing here is Samuel Wilkins, Esq. 
son of the firnt minititer. H*- was born \\, 174'2. The oldest person, 
an II habitant of the to«'n, is Mrn. Mary Barnard, mother of Rev, 
Mr. Barnard, who entered her 99;^h ytar in April. Beaides her, 
there are lour others, between 90 and 100 years of age. There are 
also tweive between 80 and 90, and between SO and 40 persons of 
70 years and up to 80. 



CORRECTIONS .1KD MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 

On the 7th page it is said that Narraganset No. A, was situated at Amus- 
keag, which was stated on the authority of the Propriety records of JNarra- 
gaiiset No. 3. Since the manuscript was delivered for publication, we have 
exaniij.ed Douglass Summary, Vol. I, {)age 506, where it is said, and per- 
haps correctly, that Narraganset No. 4, was " on the West Side oi Connecti- 
cut River.' 

t'dgc 16. The Amherst Journal and New-Hampshire Advertiser discoxi' 
tinued 9 January, 1796. From the 24 April, 1795, t^ that time, it was pub- 
lished by Nathaniel Coverly and Son. It was printed on Fridays till the 5 
Sept. and from thence till it was discontinued, on Saturdays. Its motto was 
" The public icill our guide — the public good our end.^'' 

l^age 'JS. Deacon James Cochran was elected in 1744, instead of 1774. 

Page 31. In the list of graduates, natives and inhabitants of Amherst, we 
unintentionally omitted the name of Samuel Whiting, A. B. a native of this 
town, who graduated at Dartmouth University in 1818. 

There are, in America, seven places of the name of Amherst, Amherst, 
a town in Cumberland county, A ova Scotia; a town in Hampshire county, 
Massachusetts, incorporated 1759 ; a lown in Virginia; a county in Virginia; 
one of the Magdalen Islands, in the gult of St. Lawrence ; a small Island 
at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, and this town. 



Societies.: — The Amherst Bible and Tract Society was formed in this 
town in December, 1!>16. The surplus funds of this society amounting to 
about $60, were, in 1813, appropriated to constituting the Rev. Jeremiah 
Barnard and Rev. Nathan Lord as members for life of the American Bible 
Society. On the 1 January, 1818, it was divided into two distinct Societies, 
called the Amherst Bible Society, and the Amherst Female Tract Society. 
The Bible Society is auxiliary to the Hillsborough County Bible and Charit- 
able Society, and through that to the National Bible Society. 

There is also a Religious Female Reading Society, which meets every 
week. 

We omitted to insert the present magistrates in town in the first part of 
the Appendix. 

The Justices of the Peace through the State are, Hon. Jedidiah K. Smith, 
Tfon. Cliftoip.'^etl. JudUts of ihi qt'orvm are. Samuel Wilkins, Ilobtrt 

"71 , 



Means, William Fisk, Samuel Curtis, and Frederick Frencli, Esquires.-- 
Justices of the Peace, Hon. Charles H. Atherton, I?aac Brooks, Nathan Ken" 
dall, Edmund Parker, Timothy Danforth and John Alcock, Esquires. 

Selectmen for the present year are, Capt. Daniel Campbell, Capt. John 
Secombe and Mr. Israel Fuller- 



STORES.— There are four English and West India Goods' Stores in thiB 
town, viz. 1. Col. Means', which is the oldest establishioent, havins; been 
kept in the same place without interruption about 46 years ; 2. Messrs. 
Robert Read and Isaac Spaldinir, whose Druggist establish ment is perhaps; 
the largest in the county; 3. Mr. Joel F. Thayer, and 4. Mr. James Sloan. 
There are also two Milliner's Shops, owred by Mrs. N.Curtis and Miss S. 
Low, in which are kept English Goods and other articles appropriated to the 
millinery business. _—_——____— 

TAVERJS'S. — There are four publick inns in town, of which two are 
kept upon the plain. The mail stage from Boston, which passes through 
♦own, stops at that kept by James Ray, Esq. 



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